Green Energy News | April 16, 2000

April 16, 2000 – Vol.5 No.3

ENERGIES... week of April 16, 2000

SPEAKING FOR THE PLANET. Starting this 30th Earth Day, a new website dedicated to global climate change will be launched. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will open ClimateLink - the Climate Information and Outreach Program - where users can get free access to the EPA’s education and public outreach materials on global warming.

Aside from access to brochures, fact sheets, slide shows, videos and CD-ROMs, visitors can also take part in online seminars and discussions with educators. ClimateLink can send e-mail news reports to registered users on the climate change topic of their choice. Those wishing to spread the word about the ClimateLink site can download a flyer that can be reproduced for distribution.

The EPA is hoping that more individuals will speak openly to friends, neighbors, civic and business groups about the cause and implications of climate change.

TRADING IN CARBON. The World Bank has announced that its Prototype Carbon Fund has attracted 15 companies, 6 nations and $135 million in pledges. In the fledgling emissions trading program, companies operating in participating nations can continue to emit high amounts of carbon dioxide while they purchase credits equal to a portion of their emissions. Proceeds from the purchases will be used to subsidize the cost of renewable energy. The World Bank acts as broker for the carbon credits.

The Prototype Carbon Fund is a precursor to a larger system of carbon trading that might take place should an international treaty on mitigating global warming, such as the Kyoto Protocol, be eventually ratified. A binding agreement would add value to carbon credits that would be traded in the marketplace. Visit the World Bank at http://www.worldbank.org/ .

BY POPULAR DEMAND. Whether it’s because people want to be the first to own a new technology, or they really want better fuel economy, there’s a waiting list in the U.S. to buy Honda’s Insight 70 mile per gallon gasoline-electric hybrid. To meet the unexpected demand Honda has decided to increase its U.S. allotment from 4000 to 6500 cars for this year. The two seat Insight is the first hybrid-electric car sold in the U.S. Visit Honda at http://www.honda.com/ .

LAUNCHING THE U.S. PRIUS. Toyota’s Prius gets the honors of being the first hybrid-electric car sold on the planet. Since 1997 Japanese buyers have purchased 35,000 and by August U.S. car buyers can have one too. Toyota projects 12,000 will be sold stateside in the first year.

The U.S. market Prius will be fully equipped and sell for $19,995. A pre-order program on Toyota’s website will begin in June. Orders will be finalized by dealers in August and cars delivered on a first-in/ first-out basis. Order your Prius at http://www.toyota.com/ .

THE ARMY’S HYBRID HUMVEE. While the U.S. Army may or may not care about the environment, it does care about fuel economy. The better the fuel economy per vehicle the less fuel the Army needs to transport in a time of war.

First shown in 1997, a new version of the Army’s prototype hybrid-electric High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) has made a coast-to-coast tour of the U.S. The diesel-electric hybrid achieved twice the fuel economy compared with a stock Humvee on the 3256 mile trek. According to PEI Electronics, primary contractor for the Humvee, the hybrid also outperformed the stock version by halving 0-50 acceleration times.

The vehicle is a series hybrid. A 1.9 liter Volkswagen diesel keeps a lead-acid battery pack charged which, in turn, powers the two electric drive motors. The diesel can be shut off and the Humvee operated silently in stealth mode. Visit PEI at http://www.pei-electronics.com

WIND WATCH. If you can’t buy renewable energy from the grid, you might be able to generate it at home. To support its belief that small wind turbines can become a viable power source for distributed generation, American Electric Power (AEP) has opened a website where people can monitor the performance small wind turbines in real time.

AEP has installed the first of five 10 kilowatt turbines that will be linked to the website. Each turbine is installed atop a 100 foot tower for stronger and more consistent wind. From the website users can view power output and quality to compare it with the power required for homes or businesses.

AEP also has a website which monitors the electric output from a solar array installed on a school in Ohio.

DIVERSIFYING INTO WIND POWER. Better known for its electric vehicle motors and controllers, Unique Mobility has bought a minor equity interest in wind turbine manufacturer Aeromax Corporation.

The latest design from Aeromax, the Omni Bypass 1 Kilowatt - the OB1KW - utilizes a Unique Mobility gearless direct drive generator similar to the motor used to power electric wheelchairs. Thanks to the motor, and other design features, the turbine develops maximum output at wind speeds of less than 20 miles per hour, but can handle much stronger gusts without damage, and produce up to 3.6 kilowatts of intermittent power. Visit Unique Mobility at http://www.uqm.com/ .

GREEN HYDRO. Large hydroelectric plants often get a bad rap by environmentalists for ecosystem damage and the displacement people and livelihoods. But low-impact hydro can be built that has little effect on the environment yet provide needed power to a community or industry.

Canadian Hydro Developers is building a 40 megawatt run-of-the-river hydro plant along the Peace River in Alberta, Canada. The plant will include a series of turbines that will turn in the river’s current and cause little flooding behind the installation.

Before construction began the company held a series of open house meetings to discuss concerns with local residents. Environmental issues were also analyzed such as fisheries, wildlife, vegetation, sediment transport, and historical resources. The result? Strong public support for the project. Visit Canadian Hydro at http://www.canhydro.com/ .

PORTABLE FUEL CELL POWER. A fuel cell might power your laptop computer before it powers your house or car. The Enable (tm) Fuel Cell Corporation, a subsidiary of DCH Technology, has purchased the rights to technology developed by Dr. Ulf Bossel that could bring fuel cell power to portable electronics.

Bossel technology includes hydride powder - which stores hydrogen - in a sealed canister that is installed at the bottom of a small fuel cell stack. By adding a small amount of water at the top of the stack the reaction begins and electricity is produced. The purchased technology also includes stamped metal fuel cell components that replace carbon ones and packaging design that will make the hydride fueling system appealing to consumers.

TURBO FUEL CELL. Two dissimilar generation technologies can work together for better efficiency. Siemens Westinghouse Power and Southern California Edison (SCE) have announced the first successful test of a fuel cell / micro-turbine hybrid generator.

In the hybrid hot exhaust gases from a pressurized solid oxide fuel cell (PSOFC) are fed through a micro-turbine. Testing showed that the PSOFC produced 164 kilowatts of power while the turbine added an additional 21 kilowatts. More power is expected with refinements. Adding cogeneration abilities, such as producing hot water from residual exhaust gases, will increase overall energy efficiency.

SANTA BARBARA GOES GREEN. The City of Santa Barbara is the latest in California to begin buying renewable energy for municipal facilities. The City will buy $1.6 -$1.8 million - more than 80% of its power - from Go-Green, formerly known as Cleen’n Green Energy.

The majority of electricity in the U.S. is generated from coal. Despite California’s commitment to renewable energy over a third of the states power still comes from coal or nuclear.